Keep on Turning, encaustic/collage by Ruthann Brady of Terre Haute

River City Art Association’s founding member Ruthann Brady is the January Artist of the Month at the Vigo County Public Library in Terre Haute.

“Keep on Turning,” an encaustic/collage embedded with watch gears, is one of Ruthann’s mixed media pieces featured in the library as well as on the cover of today’s Tribune-Star ‘BASH entertainment guide and inside feature article.

Artist statement: I became interested in painting after I retired from my career in communications to accompany my husband to Europe when his work presented the opportunity in 1997. With time for reflection and meditation I realized my real life journey had just begun.

“Keep on Turning” on ‘BASH cover Jan. 4, 2018

I searched for ways of self- expression, exploration. After countless beginnings to write how I felt, I realized I express myself in a visual way. It was after a vacation in Wales that I bought the first paints and brushes. We stayed at a Farm Bed and Breakfast. Our
host was a retired art teacher. She told me that anyone can learn to paint. I have been learning ever since.

I have over 25 works professionally framed and available for showing. I began painting as a realistic artist and evolved to a mixed media abstract impressionistic style. I paint mostly on heavy watercolor paper, Clay board, and hard board panels. My first works were watercolor. Now I use Acrylic, encaustic and oil and cold wax.

My art is always in transition. It evolves as I do through experiences and explorations. I often begin a painting without any preconceived plan. I flow with the rhythm of the process, pouring, manipulating and allowing the visual magic to take me on a journey. I choose the colors, medium, substrate, size and amounts and direction of flow. Beautiful colors, patterns and forms emerge. This is my favorite way to create as I feel my real spirit is imparted to the painting and hopefully will resonate allowing the viewers a spiritual journey of their own.